Greeting card



Feb. 22, 1966 PAlGE 3,235,988

GREETING CARD Filed May 16, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 22, 1966 R. E. PAIGE 3,235,988

GREETING CARD- Filed May 16, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR F//m/w 5 age United States Patent M 3,235,988 GREETING CARD Richard E. Paige, New York, N.Y., assignor to Hallmark Cards Incorporated, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed May 16, 1963, Ser. No. 280,885 2 Claims. (Cl. 40124.1)

This invention relates to a greeting card, and more particularly, to an animated greeting card in the nature of a pop-up card which is designed in such a manner that when the pages of the card are moved to an open display condition, an accessory panel moves from a position between the pages to a position thereabove, thereby adding an interesting and intriguing effect to the card when it is opened.

It is the most important object of this invention to provide a greeting card having a pair of pages hingedly interconnected along a central line of bend, there being a pair of fold lines extending angularly from said line of bend whereby to define, for each page, a section of triangular configuration, the sections having a common side edge joined by said line of bend and cooperating to form an actuating portion of said pages, there being a connecting member secured to one face of one section of said actuating portion, which connecting member carries, at a position removed from the limits of said card, an accessory panel.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a greeting card having an actuating portion which carries a connecting member, which member in turn carries an accessory panel, the greeting card and the actuating portion having pictorial representations thereupon, the accessory panel likewise having pictorial representations thereupon, said representations being complementary whereby to present an over-all common impression as the card is moved to an open display condition.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a greeting card wherein the connecting member is configured, colored, or designed in such a manner that it contributes to and forms a part of the common impression conveyed by the card when it is moved to an open display condition.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide, in the actuating portion of the greeting card, a pair of substantially triangular sections defined along one edge thereof by a fold line which serves to interconnect said sections with their respective corresponding pages, another edge of said sections being defined by the line of bend which extends centrally of the pages of the greeting card and is common to both sections, the remaining edge of each of said sections being free, the connecting member, which carries the accessory panel, being secured to one face of one of said sections of the actuating portion in such a manner that when the card is moved to a closed condition, the connecting member and the accessory panel carried thereby extend longitudinally of the page corresponding to the section to which the connecting member and its accessory panel are secured, all to the end that a connecting member and accessory panel of maximum size and shape may be utilized whereby to create the most desirable and impressive effect as the card is moved to an open condition.

Other objects of this invention include the size, configuration, construction and disposition of the various components of the greeting card and its associated parts, and other details of construction which will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of one face of the sheet of material which forms the greeting card prior to the folding of said sheet into the finished card;

Patented Feb. 22, 1966 ICC FIG. 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of a greeting card made pursuant to the present invention and showing the same in a position with one page thereof folded toward its open condition whereby to illustrate the manner in which the connecting member and its accessory panel overlie one of the pages;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the upper portion of the greeting card when the same is in an open dis-play condition;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of another form of greeting card embodying the present invention, the normally outermost page of the card being broken away to illustrate the manner in which the connecting member and the accessory panel overlie the other page thereof;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the greeting card of FIG. 4 showing the same in an open condition;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a greeting card embodying another form of the invention, one page thereof being broken away to show the manner in which the connecting member and the accessory panel overlie the other page thereof; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the greeting card of FIG. 6 showing the same in an open condition.

The greeting card of the present invention, designated as 10 in FIGS. l-3, is comprised of a substantially rectangular sheet of material 12 as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the sheet initially assuming a flat condition and being divided into four substantially equal segments by a pair of perpendicularly extending lines of bend 14 and 16. The sheet 12 is folded, from the condition shown in FIG. 1, along line of bend 16 whereby to reduce the same to half the size of sheet 12, the uppermost segments of sheet 12 overlying the lowermost segments thereof when the sheet 12 is folded along line 16. Once the card has been so folded, there are defined a pair of opposed pages 18 and 20, said pages 18 and 20 being hingedly connected along line of bend 14 which extends centrally thereof as best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the line of bend 16 extending along the normally bottom edge of the completed card.

The line of bend 14 extends throughout the full length of the pages 18 and 20. A pair of fold lines 22 and 24 extend angularly outwardly from line of bend 14 adjacent the normally uppermost portion of the card 10, said lines of fold 22 and 24 each cooperating with the centrally disposed line of bend 14 to define a substantially triangular section 26 and 28, respectively, said sections 26 and 28 cooperating to present an actuating portion 30 of the card 10, said actuating portion including both of said sections 26 and 28.

Each of the sections 26 and 28 has a base edge 32 and 34 respectively; a side edge 36 and 38 respectively; and a common side edge 40, said common side edge being defined by the line of bend 14, said line of bend 14 joining the two sections 26 and 28 along said common side edge 40.

If desired, each of the sections 26 and 28 comprising the actuating portion 30, may have an extension such as 42, in the case of section 26 as shown in FIG. 3; and such as 44 in the case of section 28 as shown in FIG. 3, the line of bend 14 extending between said extensions 42 and 44 and serving to join the same together whereby said extensions form an integral portion of the actuating portion 30.

Sections 26 and 28 are preferably in the form of right triangles, the said sections 26 and 28 being identical in geometric configuration and presenting an outermost angle 46 of approximately 30, a right angle at the point of juncture of side edges 36 and 38 with line of bend 14 respectively, and an angle of approximately 60 between the side edge 40 and the respective edges 32 and. 34 of.

each of the sections 26 and 28.

The front face 48 of the actuating portion 30 is normally provided with a suitable pictorial representation which is consistent with that representation, wording or the like, which is placed upon the pages 18 and 20 of the card and which are the pages viewed by the recipient of the card as the same is moved to an open display condition.

A connecting member 50 is secured to the other face 52 of the actuating portion 30 and, more particularly, to the other face 52 of one of the sections 26 or 28 thereof, the connecting member in FIGS. 1-3 being shown as secured to the face 52 of section 26. The connecting member, in the embodiment of the invention chosen for illustration in FIGS. 1-3, takes the form of a rod which may be wooden, plastic or any suitable material, and which is substantially cylindrical in configuration and which can be adhesively secured to said one face 52 of the section 26 whereby to retain the same in a fixed position with respect to the actuating portion 30.

At the end thereof opposite to that secured to face 52, the connecting member 50 carries an accessory panel 54, which accessory panel is secured to the same face of the connecting member 50 which is, at the other end of said connecting member, secured to the face 52 of section 26, all to the end that the accessory panel 54 will at all times lie in the same plane as the plane of that section of the actuating portion to which the connecting member 50 is secured.

The accessory panel is a free form in that it is distinct and apart from the card 10, so far as the physical makeup of the card and the accessory panel are concerned, the only link therebetween being the connecting member 50.

However, to achieve the most effective and desirable results from a card such as 10, it is intended that the accessory panel 54 be configured in such a manner as to present an article, showing or the like, which is complementary to the pictorial representation which is on the card 10 itself. Thus, in the embodiment chosen for illustration in FIGS. 1-3, the card 10, and more particularly the actuating portion 30 thereof, has a number of flowers pictorially represented thereupon and the accessory panel 54 takes the form of a bird, the connecting member 50 forming, in effect, the beak of the bird and extending into one of the flowers whereby the over-all impression presented by the card is that of a bird hovering above a flower and placing its be'a'k in the blossom of the flower.

Thus, it will be appreciated that there is presented an over-all common impression which is very effective and which is created as the greeting card is moved along line of bend 14, from its closed condition to its open display condition. In this respect, when the pages 18 and are moved to a closed condition, the sections 26 and 28 are folded inwardly along their lines of fold 22 and 24 respectively, viewing FIG. 3, and outwardly along line of bend 14, and more particularly, that portion thereof which defines common side edge 40 whereby to cause the connecting member 50 and the accessory panel 54 carried thereby to swing from a position above the card to a position overlying the page of the card corresponding to that section of the actuating portion to which the connecting member is secured.

Thus, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, the connecting member, which is secured to section 26 of the actuating portion 30, will move inwardly toward page 18 of the card 10 as the card is moved to a closed condition whereby the connecting member 50 and the panel 54 carried thereby, assume a position overlying said page 18 as clearly shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

In this respect it will be noted that the connecting member 50 is secured to its section 26 in such a manner that when the card is moved to a closed condition, the connecting member 50 extends longitudinally of the page 18, thus utilizing the full length of the page and thereby allowing for greater length in the connecting member and greater size in the accessory panel 54. This placement of the connecting member 50 and the accessory panel 54 when the card is in a closed condition is achieved not only by the positioning of the connecting member 50 on the section 26, but also by the fact that the line of bend 14 is joined with the fold line 22 at their point of juncture at an angle of 60, as hereinabove pointed out, thereby insuring that the connecting member 50 lies longitudinally of the page 18 rather than transversely thereof, thus allowing maximum size of the connecting member and the accessory panel but yet insuring that the same entirely remain within the card when it is in a closed condition.

When the card is moved to an open condition by swinging the pages apart along line of bend 14, the sections 26 and 28 will swing outwardly along their corresponding lines of fold 22 and 24 respectively, thereby tending to flatten out the actuating portion 30, such shifting movement of the actuating portion causing the connecting member 50 and the accessory panel 54 carried thereby to swing to a position above the card 10. Thus, as the card is opened, the entire impression to be conveyed thereby is delivered to the recipient of the card and the accessory panel is in effect, popped-up from the card creating a most interesting and delightful illusion.

In the form of invention chosen for illustration in FIGS. 4 and 5, the construction of the card, broadly designated as 60, is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, the same comprising a pair of pages 62 and 64 joined along a central line of bend 66, there being fold lines 68 and 70 extending angularly outwardly from the line of bend 66 whereby to define sections 72 and 74, the sections 72 and 74 cooperating to define an actuating portion broadly designated as 76.

In the form of FIGS. 4 and 5, the connecting member is in the form of a pair of rods 78 and 80 which are secured to section 74 of the actuating portion 76, the accessory panel 82 taking the form of a rooster, the rods 78 and 80 forming the legs of the rooster while also serving to connect the same to the section 74 of the actuating portion 76.

FIGURE 4 shows the card 60 in a closed condition and it will be seen that the connecting rods 78 and 80 extend substantially longitudinally, but somewhat diagonally of the page 64, the accessory panel 82 overlying a substantial portion of said page 64 when the card 60 is in a closed condition. When the card 60 is moved to an open display condition by swinging the pages 62 and 64 away from one another along line of bend 66, the accessory panel 82 is raised to a position above the card 60 by means of connecting rods 78 and 80 being swung by actuating portion 76, all in the same manner as the form of invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings.

It will be seen, however, that among the multiplicity of variations which might be incorporated into a card of the type herein disclosed, is that shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings where a simulated sunset is pictorially represented on section 72 of the actuating portion 76, the sun, as illustratively shown, forming an extension 84 of section 72 and swinging to and from a closed and open display position concurrently with section 72.

In the form of invention illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the card is comprised of a pair of pages 92 and 94 hingedly interconnected by a line of bend 96, the line of bend 96 having fold lines 98 and 100 extending angularly outwardly therefrom as shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings, whereby to define, in cooperation with line of bend 96, a pair of sections 102 and 104, said sections cooperating to present an actuating portion 106 of the card 90 in the same manner as the emobdiments of the invention hereinabove discussed.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, the connecting member 108 is in the form of a length of wire, as best seen in FIG. 6 of the drawings, said length of wire having one end 110 thereof secured to one face of section 102, the other end of the length of Wire 108 being sufficiently configured to form a backing and supporting member for the accessory panel 112 which takes the form of a dancing man. It will be appreciated that additional strength, rigidity and support is added to the accessory panel 112 by having the length of wire secured thereto in the manner illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings.

It will be appreciated that when the card 90 is moved to an open display condition, the accessory panel 112 is swung to a position thereabove, the connecting member 108 forming the cane carried by the dancing man represented by the accessory panel 112 and cooperating with pictorial representations placed upon the pages 92 and 94 whereby to create an over-all impression to be delivered to the recipient of the card.

When the card is moved to a closed condition, the connecting member 108 extends initially diagonally of the page 92 and subsequently, due to bends therein, longitudinally thereof, it being appreciated that this placement of the connecting member 108, and therefore, the accessory panel 112, is created by the manner in which the connecting member 108 is secured to one face of the section 102 and the angle along which said section is folded as the card is moved to a closed condition. Here again, the maximum amount of space available has been effectively utilized whereby an accessory panel of maximum size may be presented, but yet remain within the confines of the card 90 when it is in a closed condition.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by letters Patent is:

1. A greeting card comprising a pair of pages hingedly interconnected along a central line of bend; an actuating portion of said pages, said actuating portion consisting of a pair of interconnected, triangular sections defined by a pair of fold lines extending angularly from said line of bend; a separate, rod-like connecting member carried by said actuating portion; an accessory panel carried by said connecting member in such a manner that when the pages of the card are closed the accessory panel lies between the pages of the card and when the pages of the card are opened the accessory panel is raised by said actuating portion and said connecting member to a point spaced from the upper edge of the card; and pictorial representations on said pages, said actuating portion and said panel, which representations are complementary whereby to present a common impression when the card is opened.

2. A greeting card as set forth in claim 1 wherein said connecting member is an element of said common impression.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,005,859 6/1935 Hoke -124.l 2,102,553 12/1937 Cohen 4634 2,984,031 5/1961 Giesecke 40124.1 X 3,090,144 5/ 1963 Malarnude 40-124.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 16,805 8/1898 Great Britain.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

JEROME SCHNALL, Examiner. 

1. A GREETING CARD COMPRISING A PAIR OF PAGES HINGEDLY INTERCONNECTED ALONG A CENTRAL LINE OF BEND; AN ACTUATING PORTION OF SAID PAGES, SAID ACTUATING PORTION CONSISTING OF A PAIR OF INTERCONNECTED, TRIANGULAR SECTIONS DEFINED BY A PAIR OF FOLD LINES EXTENDING ANGULARLY FROM SAID LINE OF BEND; A SEPARATE, ROD-LIKE CONNECTING MEMBER CARRIED BY SAID ACTUATING PORTION; AN ACCESSORY PANEL CARRIED BY SAID CONNECTING MEMBER IN SUCH A MANNER THAT WHEN THE PAGES OF THE CARD ARE CLOSED THE ACCESSORY PANEL LIES BETWEEN THE PAGES OF THE CARD AND WHEN THE PAGES OF THE CARD ARE OPENED THE ACCESSORY PANEL IS RAISED BY SAID ACTUATING PORTION AND SAID CONNECTING MEMBER TO A POINT SPACED FROM THE UPPER EDGE OF THE CARD; AND PICTORIAL REPRESENTATIONS ON SAID PAGES, SAID ACTUATING PORTION ANY SAID PANEL, WHICH REPRESENTATIONS ARE COMPLEMENTARY WHEREBY TO PRESENT A COMMON IMPRESSION WHEN THE CARD IS OPENED. 